Mechanical voting machine

ABSTRACT

A mechanical voting machine adapted to count ballots in which the selection is indicated by a punched out portion of the ballot. The punched out portion of the ballot engages a selected star wheel as it moves into the ballot box with the star wheel actuating a counter to record the vote.

United States Patent 15] 3,682,375 Partovi-Naiafabadi [451 Aug. 8, 1972 4] MECHANICAL VOTING MACHINE 440,546 11/1890 Dougan ..235/56 [72] Inventor: Roohouah P WNaiafabadi, 2 1(8); 5:212:31] G Hensel Apts College Station 77840 Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky [22] Filed: March 30, 1971 Attorney-Berman, Davidson & Berman A mechanical voting machine adapted to count ballots US. Cl. A, B in the selection is indicated a punched out It. CI. portion of the ballot The punched out portion of the Field of Search ..235/50 A, 6, ballot engages a selected star wheel as it moves into 35/48 R, 48 B the ballot box with the star wheel actuating a counter to record the vote. [56] References Cited 6 Claim 10 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 408,093 7/1889 Foster ..235/57 PATENTEDAUB 8 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 gwjzwm fd mu,

A T TOR XE Y6? 1 MECHANICAL VOTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention which the vote is registered as the ballot is inserted into the ballot box.

Summary of the Invention A voting machine is provided with a plurality of star wheels arranged to engage against a ballot inserted in a slot in the ballot box. The voter indicates his choice on the ballot by removing a knockout portion adjacent the name of the person for whom he is voting prior to inserting the ballot into the box. One of the star wheels is aligned to engage in the opening in the ballot so that as the ballot is pushed into the box the star wheel is rotated to thus actuate a counter.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a voting machine in which the ballot is counted as it is inserted into the ballot box.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown partially broken away for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ballot used with the ballot box;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged'fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the star wheel and counter with the ballot shown in engagement therewith;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the ballot moved downwardly with respect to the star wheel;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the ballot moved further downwardly with respect to the star wheel;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation partially broken away and in section of a modified star wheel used with the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT thereon at 22 with each name having a knockout panel.

23 adjacent thereto. The knockout panel 23 is defined 2 by a peripheral cut line 24 which extends partially through the ballot 21.

The voter in making his selection amongest the candidates 22 will force one of the panels 23 out of the ballot 21 to leave a hole 25 in the ballot 21 adjacent the candidates name.

The voting machine 20 includes a generally rectangular ballot box 26 having a ballot counting unit 27 secured to the upper portion thereof by hinges 28. The unit 27 forms a cover for the ballot box 26 and is secured to the ballot box 26 by a hasp 29 secured by any desired lock.

The unit 27 has a relatively thick partition 30 extending vertically therein and having a vertical slot 31 opening completely therethrough. The vertical slot 3] communicates with a tapered opening 32 in the top of the unit 27 to receive the ballot 21 which can be forced downwardly in the slot 31.

A plurality of transverse vertical openings 33 are formed in the partition 30 in spaced apart parallel relation. A plurality of transverse vertical slots 34 are formed in the partition 30 intermediate the slots 33 and having a width some-what narrower then the slots 33.

A lower shaft 35 extends transversely of the unit 27 parallel to the partition 30 and has its opposite ends joumalled in bosses 36 carried by the unit 27. The shaft 35 has a plurality of belt wheels 37 mounted thereon and turning therewith. A second shaft 38 is similarly mounted above the shaft 35 and has matching belt wheels 37 mounted thereon and turning therewith.

A plurality of belts 39 are trained over the belt wheels 37 and carry a plurality of outwardly extending pins 40 which engage through the slots 34 to extend transversely across the slot 31.

A shaft 41 extends transversely across the unit 27 and is joumalled in bushings 42 integrally formed therein. A plurality of star wheels 43 are joumalled for rotation on the shaft 42 and are maintained thereon in spaced apart parallel relation by means of a plurality of tubular sleeves 44, 45 engaged over the shaft 41. The star wheels 43 each include three identical points 46 extending outwardly therefrom in equi-spaced relation.

A counter 47 corresponding to each star wheel 43 is mounted on one wall of the unit 27 and has a lever 48 extending upwardly therefrom to engage one of the star points 46 of the star wheel 43 as it rotates on the shaft 42. The counters 47 are visible through a viewing window 49 on one wall of the unit 27 so that the totals thereof may be easily ascertained.

In the use and operation of the invention the voter makes his selection of a candidate by removing one of the panels 23 on the ballot 21 adjacent the name of the candidate he has selected. He then pushes the ballot 21 downwardly through the tapered opening 32 into the slot 31 where the ballot engages the pins 40 on the belts 39 to prevent the ballot 21 from being moved downwardly through the slot 31 other then in an aligned position. As the ballot 21 moves downwardly through the slot 31 the opening 25 therein becomes aligned with one of the star points 46 of a star wheel 43 and the star wheel 43 rotates by gravity so that the uppermost star point 46 engages into the opening 25. Further movement of the ballot downwardly in the slot 31 causes the star wheel 43 to rotate on the shaft 42 and another star point 46 thereon engages the lever 48 of the counter 47 to record one vote for the respective candidate. As the ballot moves downwardly in the slot 31 and the pins 40 are retracted from beneath the ballot 21 it drops from the slot 31 into the ballot box 26.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 a modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the shaft 42 has a star wheel 143 joumalled thereon and carrying a plurality of star points 146 as a part thereof.

Each of the star points 146 includes a chamber 147 opening through its outer end and having a transverse slot 148 extending therethrough. A finger 149 is mounted for reciprocation in the chamber 147 and has a pin 150 secured thereto and slidably mounted in the slots 148. A compression coil spring 151 is positioned in the chamber 147 to normally urge the finger 149 outwardly with respect to the shaft 42.

In the use and operation of the modified star wheel illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 the ballot 21 is used in the identical manner as in the preferred form of the invention. The star wheel 143 has the finger 149 thereof forced inwardly of the chamber 147 by passage of the ballot 21 into the slot 31. As the opening 25 comes adjacent the finger 149 the spring 151 forces the finger 149 into the opening 25 so that further movement of the ballot 21 causes the star wheel 143 to rotate and actuate the counter 47 in the same manner as the preferred form of the invention.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A voting machine comprising a ballot in which the voter indicates his choice by opening a hole therein, a vote counting unit for receiving the ballot, a plurality of ballot engaging members a selected one of which is rotated by passage of the hole in the ballot thereby, and means for counting the rotations of said members.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said members comprises a star wheel having a plurality of points extending radially outwardly therefrom.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for maintaining said ballots in aligned relation with respect to said members.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a partition extends vertically in said unit with said partition having a vertical guide slot for said ballot and a plurality of slots throughwhich said members rotate.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein means are provided in said unit for maintaining said ballots in aligned relation in said slot with said members.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said members each include a star wheel having a plurality of radially extending points, said points each having a spring pressed retractable finger mounted thereon. 

1. A voting machine comprising a ballot in which the voter indicates his choice by opening a hole therein, a vote counting unit for receiving the ballot, a plurality of ballot engaging members a selected one of which is rotated by passage of the hole in the ballot thereby, and means for counting the rotations of said members.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said members comprises a star wheel having a plurality of points extending radially outwardly therefrom.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for maintaining said ballots in aligned relation with respect to said members.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a partition extends vertically in said unit with said partition having a vertical guide slot for said ballot and a plurality of slots throughwhich said members rotate.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein means are provided in said unit for maintaining said ballots in aligned relation in said slot with said members.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said members each include a star wheel having a plurality of radially extending points, said points each having a spring pressed retractable finger mounted thereon. 